Sometimes It's Just Right

Sometimes you just gotta take the shot. When creation throws you a bone, you better just chew on it and enjoy the juices. That's what was going through my mind this morning.

This shot really started yesterday. I was in Wilmington DE finishing some training with a few of our pilots. I was originally to take a Limo (sedan) to White Plains NY to position for a checkride on Friday. As often as things go, that turned into an airline to CVG and on to AZO. That is Cincinnati OH and Kalamazoo MI for the aviation challenged. Then it would be a taxi over to Battle Creek and spend the night. I had been gone since Monday and my wife was leaving Friday for eight days. Now starts the conniving in my mind. $65 taxi to BTL or $47 rental car. Stay at home (40 minutes away) or hotel in BTL. Ok... It didn't take too much thought but I had to sell it to the company. That done I was on my way home to spend an unexpected evening with my bride.

There is always a downside but in this case it was well worth it. Home is roughly an hour from BTL to which I had a 7:00 AM showtime for an 8:00 AM departure that I was going to observe a crew fly the aircraft to SDF (Louisville KY) as a routine checkride. This meant an alarm at 4:30 AM to give me the cushion I wanted to have to make the showtime.

So I get on the road at 5:45 and am driving down US 131 towards AZO and BTL. It was dark when I left the house but the shades of sunrise were on the horizon. Slowly but surely the sky brightened and the environment around me was changing to this beautiful light. I was reminded of the golden hour and sunset and how it is often said there are two times to get great light. They are right, this is the other time. I looked over my shoulder while driving South and saw a view similar to this with a lone tree in the foreground. I cringed knowing that I should stop and get the shot but the pilot in me said No! you have a time to make, this shot will be here another time. I finally decided that that other time would be the same time in the morning and I would be less motivated to get up just for the shot. Besides, this is West Michigan and you just don't get these spectacular vistas everyday. You can no doubt guess what I did.

The story does not end there. As I was getting back up to speed, my wife called me and told me that if I am going to pend the night with a mistress, I should not leave evidence. I had left my ID badge on the bed this morning. I was not too far so I swung back around to the house and eventually got to BTL about thirty minutes before our departure time.

But I got a great shot!

Take care and have a great weekend. Doug